800,000 Cut Off as Israeli Lockdown Forces 2,200 Hebron Residents From Homes

The West Bank entered a state of isolation on Saturday after Israeli forces sealed the borders of the occupied territory. This move followed a deadly attack on an Israeli military base that left two soldiers and two Palestinian gunmen dead.

The blockade has cut off access to Hebron, the most populous governorate in the West Bank. Yousef al-Ja'bari, the mayor of Hebron, reported that 2,200 residents were forced from their homes. He stated that soldiers used loudspeakers to announce evacuation orders late at night, leaving families with little time to pack. On Saturday, the city was closed to both entry and exit.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a full lockdown of the West Bank in response to the incident. Israeli forces conducted raids in at least 15 locations across the region on Saturday. These operations included areas in Jenin, Nablus, Ramallah, Al-Bireh, Birzeit, East Jerusalem, and Bethlehem. The Palestinian Prisoners' Society announced that approximately 70 Palestinians were arrested during these sweeps.

The Palestinian Authority, which governs the West Bank, labeled the military actions as collective punishment. Officials cited home demolitions and the siege of cities as key concerns. They urged the international community to intervene to protect residents. Hamas also issued a statement, claiming that the escalation would fuel further anger among the population.

Issa Amro, a political analyst based in Hebron, described the situation for the 800,000 Palestinians living in the governorate. He noted that all entrances and exits have been closed since the morning. Amro added that there is no safe place to hide inside the city, stating that the population is currently in fear.

The military operations are taking place three days before Israeli parliamentary elections scheduled for October 27. Correspondents noted that political leaders are attempting to leverage the attack to improve their standing in the polls. Netanyahu avoided a direct answer on whether his government intends to dismantle the Palestinian Authority, but he indicated that a big surprise awaits the organization.

Israeli forces also targeted media personnel documenting operations near the Farsh al-Hawa checkpoint in Hebron. Soldiers fired a stun grenade at journalists who were filming the bulldozing of homes and vehicles in the area.